First Half Wagering Explained - Tips and Strategies
by Predictem.com Staff
As you may or may not know, almost all sportsbooks offer betting on the first half of baseball, basketball and football games. While first half wagers aren't really near the top of our list of favorite types of wagers, they do indeed have some value in certain situations.
The first that comes to mind is in baseball. The game of baseball has changed so much! Back in the old days, a starter used to throw well over a hundred pitches assuming he was doing well. These days a pitcher seems to go only 5-6 innings, then, in comes a middle reliever or setup man and then the closer, regardless of how the starter did. It's almost like managers are afraid of creating dead arms these days.
Gone are the days of Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver and the complete game. Our point is that often times a baseball bet is made with huge emphasis on the starting pitcher. Well, if he only goes 5 innings and that's assuming he's going to have a good game, the rest of your bet relies on the bullpen which is somewhat of a crapshoot unless your an astute handicapper and are REAL familiar with the manager, how he uses his bullpen and who won't see action because of recent overuse. Again, it's somewhat of a crapshoot even if your familiar with these variables.
With all that being said, this is a great time to bust out with a first half wager. This way bet will likely be covered by the pitcher that you want to be covering it. A first half baseball wager covers the first five innings of the game. The score at the end of the fifth determines if your bet is a winner or loser.
Another case in which we'd consider a first half wager in either football or basketball would be a team that historically gets out to a fast start and a nice lead.
There are many teams that come to mind that are great at establishing first half leads using their starting units. If you study team trends closely you will find out who these teams are and you can use these tidbets as golden nuggets at the betting window.
Almost all online bookies offer first half wagers. Check out our list of reputable sportsbooks to find one that suits your needs.
Opening an Account - It's simple but there are things to take into consideration first!
Sign-up Bonus - Most online bookies will offer incentives such as free money if you sign up with them.
Deposits - Is it safe? How do you do it? We explain it all.
Withdrawals - We explain how you collect your winnings.
Free Half Point - Many online sportsbooks offer a free 1/2 point as an incentive to play with them. Get the details here.
$1 Minimum Bet Sportsbook - Yes! They do exist!
Dimeline Sportsbooks - If you bet on baseball games and your not being dealt a 10 cent line your wasting money!
Free Bets - Certain sportsbooks reward their players by awarding them with "free $10 bets" just for keeping their accounts active.
Loyalty Programs - Accrue points for your play and redeem them for free bets or prizes.House Rules - Rules protect both you and the house. Know them before placing your first wager.
Affiliate Programs - Have a website? Make money promoting online sportsbooks.
Referrals - Make money by referring buddies.
Ask the Bookie - Have a sportsbook related question? Ask the bookie here.
Costa Rica - We list all the endorsed reputable sportsbooks located in C.R.
United Kingdom - Recommended sportsbooks from the UK.
Antigua - Best books located in Antigua.
Jamaica - Home of baseball's best dimeline, we offer a list of online bookies located in the country of Jamaica.
Curacao - Home of the best reduced juice book on the planet.
Panama - Top sportsbooks residing in Panama.
Las Vegas - We give our opinion of books in Vegas.
The Truth About Bonuses - Are they free money or not?
Reduced Vig - The best thing since sliced bread? We think so!
Sportsbook Articles - Check out our collection of bookie related articles.
Betting Online vs. The Corner Street Bookie - We talk about the advantages of trading in your old bookie for a sleek online account.
What is Vigorish? - We explain how the house makes their money.